Crews rescue equipment operator who went over steep hillside off Route 30 in North Huntingdon

The operator of a skid loader suffered non life-threatening injuries Tuesday afternoon when the equipment went over a 150-foot hillside behind the Norwin Commerce Center along Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Hartford Heights Deputy Fire Chief Mark Gibas said.

Gibas said he did not know the identity of the operator or the extent of his injuries. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital.

The operator was thrown from the skid loader as it went over the hillside, ending up not far from the overturned piece of equipment, Gibas said.

The mishap occurred as he was spreading dirt at a parking lot behind the building, which is in the vicinity of the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

When rescue crews arrived, Gibas said they sent emergency medical personnel down the steep hillside to tend to the victim. The man was placed in Stokes basket connected to a rope line that was pulled up the snowy and slippery hillside. He was accompanied by two rescuers.

They used about 600 feet of rope in the rescue, Gibas said.

“Rope rescues are difficult to begin with,” Gibas said. “Everything went as smoothly as we can expect.”

North Huntingdon police were investigating. Additional information was not available Tuesday night.

Numerous fire and rescue vehicles from North Huntingdon, Irwin and Hempfield responded.

The owner of the property could not be reached for comment Tuesday.